{Japan} Kyoto’s Kiyomizu Dera, Tofu and Udon

If you like history, temples and shrines, you’ll like Kyoto. Kyoto is Japan’s 7th largest city. If you have a JR pass, the ride from Tokyo would be free with reserved seating. Without a JR Pass, a one way reserved seating ride from Tokyo on the Tokaido Shinkansen would set you back around 13,200yen. Kyoto has countless historically priceless shrines, temples and structures. Did you know that because of Kyoto’s cultural and historical richness, a U.S. Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson managed to get Kyoto off the list of cities that were to be atomic bombed during World War II? Thank goodness Kyoto was saved!

Kyoto is:

2+ hours away from Tokyo by shinkansen
15 minutes away from Osaka by shinkansen

KIYOMIZU DERA

There were so many shrines and temples that it is impossible to visit all of them within the couple of days we had in Kyoto. So, we picked a couple temples that we thought would be interesting to go check out. 清水寺 (Kiyomizu Dera) is one of the locations we chose to visit.

日本
〒605-0862 京都府京都市東山区清水１丁目２９４
075-551-1234
kiyomizudera.or.jp

Kiyomizu Dera actually refers to several Buddhist temples but is usually used to reference 音羽山清水寺 (Otowa-san Kiyomizu Dera). The name comes from the waterfall within the temple that runs off the nearby hills. Kiyoi mizu literally means pure water.The buildings we visited were constructed in 1633. The main hall’s veranda juts out the side of a hill and is supported by hundreds of pillars.

Beneath this main hall is the waterfall “Otowa-no-taki” where 3 channels of water flows into a pond. People from all over the world visit this temple to drink from one of the three channels of water (each one representing wisdom, health and longevity). It is said that if you were greedy and drank from all three, misfortune will befallen you, so everyone drinks only from one or two of the water channels.
There is also a love temple for those seeking blessing for their relationships, marriage and looking for love. It houses several shrines, among them one that’s dedicated to Okuninushi, the God of Love and Good Matches. There, you will find 2 love stones placed 20 feet apart. Lonely visitors are supposed to walk from one to the other with their eyes closed. Success in the endeavor implies they will find love, or true love.

MUST EAT TOFU & UDON

A good friend of mine, Tao Chuan, brought me here when I visited Japan in 2009. The one thing I remember most besides the temple and channels of water was actually this tofu and udon dish I had here with him.

This small restaurant is called 滝の屋 (Taki no ya). It is located right next to the channels of water. You MUST stop and try the tofu and udon! The tofu was one of the silkiest tofu we have ever had. It’s a very simple dish where you scoop it out of the lightly flavored (with a piece of seaweed) broth it is cooked in and dip it in some type of soy sauce they provide and eat it. The udon is also cooked perfectly and flavorful. Toppings are green onion and raw egg. Simple, yet delicious! We had 2 bowls of udon and 1 tofu bucket. Our bill came to 2,100yen.